TRUTHFULNESS, GOODNESS, USEFULNESS

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?". 

Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the “Triple-Filter” test.

The first filter, he explained, is Truth. “Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to say is true?” The man shook his head. “No, I actually just heard about it, and …”

Socrates cut him off. “You don’t know for certain that it is true, then. Is what you want to say something good or kind?” Again, the man shook his head. “No! Actually, just the opposite. You see …”

Socrates lifted his hand to stop the man speaking. “So you are not certain that what you want to say is true, and it isn’t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is Usefulness or Necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?” A little defeated, the man replied, “No, not really.”

“Well, then,” Socrates said, turning on his heel. “If what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.”

If we all filtered our speech in this way, whichever questions we ask ourselves, we could avoid a great deal of negativity.

The scripture (Proverbs 26:20) says, “Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down.”

We backbite to make ourselves appear a little higher, by cutting others down. We enjoy a moment of attention as our audience salivates over a fellow human's debasement. It is cheap glory, and it destroys camaraderie and collaboration.

Would you like to eradicate backbiting in your team or your organisation? Share this story with them and ask them to pledge to always use the triple filter test before saying something about a colleague.

Most importantly, do so yourself.

FEEL THE TRUTH

We are all sinners saved by grace, never should we think of ourselves more or higher than what we ought to. We should seem different than those in and of the world. We know and follow a different way, we have different desires and dreams, our ambition should be selfless not selfish. We are surrounded by lies every day, and we know it. When lies surround us, when we are tempted perhaps to lie or distort the truth for our own benefit or self-preservation, don’t give in. Rather than embracing the lie, hold on to and take a stand on the truth.

Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Truth is also ontological—which is a fancy way of saying it is the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. God is looking for men with humble hearts; We need to know that when we are earnest and steadfast in our search for the truth which God reveal to us, and that this determines our daily experience for the better.

Let's ask God to help us know His truth and live it out by speaking honestly with everyone we know.

FATHER IS ALWAYS "HERO"

Father's are like a steady but less sentimentalized institution — the sun in our familial sky that warms and gives life but isn’t much thought about unless he goes missing.

Every child's relationship with their father is unique. Every family will be expecting his father to return back from work safe. Thou they do not understand the father's everyday struggle for existence, the loss of a father will destroy the equation of their family life.

Knowingly or unknowingly, we might have been a reason to destroy someone's life. While we want to take care of our family, protect them and keep our family members happy, we tend to forget that the person whom we hurt also has a family. After all, we all are humans who have spirit in a temporary body combined with flesh and bones. The emotions of humans who have the sixth sense are the same.   The pain is the same. If it hurts me, it will hurt them too. 

Let's respect one another. Even if we can't be the reason for someone's smile, don't ever be the reason for their destruction. Cos, they will have a family who will look unto them with great expectations. As for every child, their Father is a Hero!

SILENCE IS POWERFUL

There are times when silence can speak louder than words. Know when silence will help you more effectively speak up for yourself and lead. Leaders should empower others. They have to rarely tell people what to do. Rather, leaders need to provide others the opportunity to identify the roadmap for achieving the goals they set out to achieve.

Stay silent, don’t say anything, and speak when it's required. SILENCE IS POWERFUL!